Why Professional Development Matters for Independent School Employees (and Anyone Else for That Matter)

If you read my last blog, you know that I had the opportunity to attend the AISAP Leadership Summit: Inbound Marketing for Schools earlier this month. It was a fantastic experience and one of the best workshops I have attended in my professional career. I have since returned to Darlington refreshed, re-energized and full of ideas about how inbound internet marketing can move us forward and help us meet some of the strategic goals we have set in Darlington’s Communication Office.

 

This is precisely why professional development matters. We all need time to escape from our day-to-day routine and learn from pros and peers in our field. Below, I have outlined five benefits of professional development that I have personally experienced since I’ve been employed by Darlington:

 

1. Learn new things. I think this is pretty much a given. Being exposed to new people and ideas always gets the mind going. I would be willing to bet that you are always going to find something or some idea that you can implement personally or within your organization to make it better.

2. See what you do right. In our effort to always be improving, sometimes we don’t take the time to pat ourselves on the back when we are actually doing something really well. In fact, you may not even realize that you are until you talk to other professionals in your field. It always feels good to know that you and your organization are doing something right.

3. Share what you do well. When you do know that you and your organization have really hit the nail on the head with a particular strategy or program, don’t be afraid to share. Apply to present on the topic at a workshop or conference. Chances are that even though you are the “expert,” you are still going to learn something and make connections with other professionals!

4. Make professional connections. It’s great to find new people with whom you can share ideas and strategies for success. The fact is, the other professionals in your field are probably dealing with many of the same challenges and opportunities that you are. It’s nice to have peers to talk through issues with and bounce ideas off of long after you’ve left your conference or workshop. It’s also an opportunity to connect vendors who might offer products and solutions products that would be perfect for your organization.

5. Refresh and re-energize. We are all busy and it is so easy to get so caught up in your daily routine that you don’t take the time to look/plan ahead. Leaving your normal work environment and surrounding yourself with people who are eager to learn and share will not only refresh you, but re-energize you. You will return full of new ideas and even more excited about what you do each day.

 

Professional development is especially important for folks who are in the business of teaching and learning, as we are here at Darlington School. As education professionals, don’t we want all of our students to eventually become lifelong learners? And if that’s the case, shouldn’t we, too, make time for continued learning?

 

I am thankful that Darlington puts an emphasis on the professional development of its faculty and staff, and I look forward to hearing about all the wonderful things my colleagues are doing this summer to make our school and even better learning environment for the families who choose us.

I am headed to HubSpot's INBOUND 2013 conference in August and I look forward to sharing more about the things I learn and how they will impact the work I do for Darlington. Colleagues, I hope that you will join me in blogging about your professional development experiences when you return to campus refreshed and re-energized!